Falun Dafa Minghui.org www.minghui.org PRINT

Canada: The South African Ambassador to Canada Meets With Falun Gong Practitioners Over the Shooting Incident (Photos)

July 01, 2004 |   By Dong Na, Minghui Reporter to Ottawa

(Clearwisdom.net)

On the evening of June 28, 2004, Australian Falun Gong practitioners were shot at by an unknown assailant on their way to Presidential Guest House to conduct a peaceful protest against the persecution of Falun Gong in China. Zeng Qinghong, who plays a major role in the persecution of Falun Gong in China, was visiting in South Africa. One practitioner who was driving the car was shot resulting in the bones of one foot being shattered.It was the worst attack targeting overseas Falun Gong practitioners to date. Falun Gong practitioners in Ottawa and Montreal held a peaceful protest in the front to the Chinese Embassy despite the rain on June 29.

Chairperson of the Falun Dafa Association in Canada informs the South African High Commissioner to Canada about shooting incident

Falun Gong practitioners clarify truth in the rain at the diplomatic envoy's office of South Africa

A protest against the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in front of the Chinese Embassy

South African High Commissioner to Canada promises to forward Falun Gong practitioners' letter to the South African Government

South African Ambassador to Canada Teresa M. Solomon met Falun Gong practitioner representatives and listened to the recount of the shooting of Falun Gong practitioners in South Africa and facts about the persecution in China. Falun Gong practitioners gave Ambassador Solomon a letter to South African government. The letter called the shooting an act of terrorism that threatens not only overseas Falun Gong practitioners, but also every lawful citizen in the world. Ambassador Solomon promised to report this incident and forward the letter to South African government.

A senior official of Canadian Foreign Affairs also met with Falun Gong practitioner representatives. Falun Gong practitioners exposed the terrorism act by Jiang's regime and called for the international society's collective effort to condemn and stop their terrorism. Falun Gong practitioners also went to the Australian Embassy in Canada and expressed their deep concern with the Australian citizen injured by the shooting. They hope the Australian government will help the South African government investigate the case and bring the criminals to justice. The Australian diplomatic envoy said he would contact the Australian Embassy to South African and the Australian government immediately.

Shooting Is Not an Isolated Case

During the meeting with Ambassador Solomon, Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Dai Gongyu quoted renowned Human Right Attorney Irwin Cotler, who called the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners "criminalization of the innocent." Mr. Dai said the acts of terrorism by Jiang's regime not only target Falun Gong practitioners, but also hurt human morality and conscience.

Dai also stated that the shooting attack was not an isolated case. It happened during high-level Chinese officials' visit to South Africa. The victim was a Falun Gong practitioner who was wearing a shirt with the words, "Falun Dafa" . This group of Falun Gong practitioners had planned to file a lawsuit against Zeng Qinghong and other notorious human-right violators. the incident remains suspicious and points to the fact these were hired gunmen to shoot practitioners in order to stop the lawsuit from being filed.

Jiang's Groups Extends its Policy of State Terror Around the World

According to the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong, over the past five years, Jiang's group has utilized the Chinese embassies and consulates to extend state terrorism overseas through a variety of methods . Consular officials have distributed hate materials to governments and organizations, attempted to block official recognitions of Falun Gong issued by government officials, threatened facilities not to provide accomodation to Falun Gong activities, interfered with Chinese Student Association elections, refused to extend Falun Gong practitioners' passports, organized overseas Chinese associations to publicly denounce and bar Falun Gong from community activities and then reported these in state-run media back in China. Even worse, they hired gangsters to threaten and attack Falun Gong practitioners overseas. Embassy officials have beaten Falun Gong practitioners personally. Phone tapping, threats, guilt by association tactics, etc. were also among their methods.

Canadian Falun Gong practitioner Wang Xiuliang was brutally beaten by some embassy officials in Canada. He told reporters, "The nature of this persecution is genocide. The malicious take every opportunity to attack overseas Falun Gong practitioners using indecent means. They even resort to violence by gangs. Such violence has occurred all over the world."

Falun Gong practitioner Ginette D'Aoust-Castonguay told reporter that this was the first time that Falun Gong practitioners had been shot in overseas countries. It sent a clear message to people in all countries that the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners was not limited to China. It has been extended around the world. Falun Gong practitioners will take this opportunity to further expose the nature of the persecution.